As the controversy over the US request to use the U-tapao airbase continues to simmer, The Nation's Wannapa Khaopa has talked to a Thai academic who has had the opportunity to join some work of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. The following is her interview with Narisara Thongboonchoo, lecturer of King Mongkut's Institute of Technology Ladkrabang, who took part in two missions of air experiments of NASA in Hong Kong and the US.